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Archive | Winter Garden

Such a gloomy winter we have had–brown grass and gray skies. But look what just a light dusting of snow will do: Bluff Spring Fen, Elgin 1/16/07 The large trees are Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa), while the smaller trees are Hill’s Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis). A red oak, it has pointed bristled-tipped glossy green leaves that […]

During winter the winds come in crisp and invigorating from across the prairies. At this season of the year the landscape assumes a dreary look to many who do not understand. But to others, when the gray arms of the cottonwood are illuminated by the January sun and silhouetted against the blue sky, when sleeping […]

A robin! Robins are back! Spring is here! Well, not exactly, even if we are going to have spring-like weather this coming week. We assume that all robins fly south in the fall, but some linger here all winter, particularly the males. (They want to be the first ones here in the spring to claim […]

The night is freezing fast, Tomorrow comes December; K. E. Housman Celebrate Winter The final leaves of autumn have fallen and while winter does not officially begin until December 21, everyone knows that winter begins the day after Thanksgiving. But instead of turning our backs on winter, hoping only that it will be short, let’s […]